Palenzonaite is a rare vanadate member of the garnet group typically occurring as small wine-red dodecahedral crystals. It is primarily known from the manganese mines of the Val Graveglia region in Italy where it forms in association with other manganese minerals. Collectors prize it for its unique chemistry and relative scarcity.
Is this palenzonaite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch palenzonaite with a known reference. Palenzonaite sits at Mohs 6-6.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Palenzonaite leaves a brownish red streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Palenzonaite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: wine-red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: dodecahedral crystals, massive.
Often confused with
Palenzonaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Palenzonaite leaves brownish red, Garnet leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Palenzonaite and vitreous on Garnet.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Palenzonaite leaves brownish red, Braunite leaves black; luster reads adamantine on Palenzonaite and submetallic on Braunite.
Often found alongside palenzonaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with palenzonaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂Ca₂Mn₃(VO₄)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 6-6.5
- Density
- 3.63 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brownish Red
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Dodecahedral Crystals, Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Manganese-rich Metamorphic Rocks
Where rockhounds find palenzonaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Molinello Mine, Italy
- Val Graveglia, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Look in manganese-rich metamorphic rocks country, the host setting where palenzonaite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, hausmannite, braunite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a dodecahedral crystals, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify palenzonaite?+
Where is palenzonaite found?+
What rocks look like palenzonaite?+
What minerals are found with palenzonaite?+
What kind of rock does palenzonaite form in?+
What is palenzonaite used for?+
Find palenzonaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
